The BC Living Lab is now underway with nine commodity groups working together with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) researchers and academic partners from four BC universities. Contracts have been set up this year to disperse $350,000 to project partners to establish farmer partnerships and co-develop BMP trials from the Cariboo to the South Coast. A project steering committee led by industry partners has been established and meetings with growers and researchers are underway. Socioeconomic research to better understand the drivers and barriers to BMP adoption has also begun.

ACS first launched in April of 2021. In collaboration with our sector stakeholders, IAF and the BC Agriculture Council (BCAC) developed a joint application for phase 1 of the program. Following the two-phase application process, IAF was granted conditional approval in July of 2022 to begin the BC Living Lab.

The project will support adoption of precision (4R) nutrient management and winter cover cropping to reduce emissions and/or increase soil carbon in BC’s field vegetable sector. The work plan proposed will demonstrate and evaluate BMPs and compare with current practices.

PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS
• BC Potato & Vegetable Growers’ Association
• Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust

BMPS BEING TRIALED
• 4R nutrient management
• Winter cover crops

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER GOALS
• Producer Survey
• Knowledge Transfer Events
• Annual field day
• Develop BMP resource guides (Aprx. 10 items)
• Fact sheets
• Summary Reports

This project will support the testing, monitoring, refinement and adoption of BMPs associated with grazing season extension and winter-feeding strategies in BC’s forage and cattle sector. The project will demonstrate and evaluate the environmental and economic impacts of selected BMPs in contrast to conventional practices, with a focus on carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas mitigation benefits.

PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS
• BC Cattlemen’s Association
• BC Forage Council

BMPS BEING TRIALED
• Annual and/or alternative forage cover crops for fall/winter grazing
• Standing crop for winter grazing
• Fall cover crop for extended fall or spring grazing
• Bale grazing

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER GOALS
• Producer Survey
• Knowledge Transfer Events
• Goal of 500-600 producers reached per year
• 3-5 field days annually
• Various in-person demonstrations & events
• Develop BMP resource guides
• Communications hub
• Fact sheets
• Guides

This project will demonstrate and evaluate the environmental and economic impacts of BMPs that have the potential to increase carbon sequestration and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, including cover cropping, lower emissions spreading and refined nutrient budgeting to reduce Nitrogen fertilizer inputs. The selected BMPs are based on an in-depth producer consultation and existing work done by the Canadian dairy industry via Dairy Farmers of Canada.

PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS
• BC Dairy Association

BMPS BEING TRIALED
• Cover/relay cropping
• Lower emissions spreading
• Refined nutrient budgeting

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER GOALS
• Producer Survey
• Knowledge Transfer Events
• Annual on-farm demonstration events
• Develop BMP resource guides
• 5 annual communications in BC Holstein News
• Fact sheets
• BMP reference materials
• Podcasts

This project is a joint application from the perennial row crops group, led by the blueberry, raspberry, hazelnut, tree fruit and wine grape sectors to drive adoption of key BMPs identified through consultation with growers.

PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS
• BC Blueberry Council
• BC Cherry Association
• BC Fruit Growers’ Association
• BC Wine Grape Council
• Raspberry Industry Development Council

BMPS BEING TRIALED
• Inter row cover crops
• Improved irrigation and fertilizer management

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER GOALS
• Knowledge Transfer Events
• Annual field days
• Industry presentations
• Develop BMP resource guides
• Fact sheets in English & Punjabi

BC Living Lab Project Update – January 2023